BMW Z4

BMW Z4
Overview
Manufacturer	BMW
Production	2002–2016
Body and chassis
Class	Compact luxury sports car (S)
Chronology
Predecessor	BMW Z3
Successor	BMW Z5

The BMW Z4 is a rear-wheel drive sports car by the German car maker BMW. It follows a line of past BMW roadsters such as the BMW Z1, BMW 507, BMW Z8, and the BMW Z3. The Z4 replaces the Z3. First generation production started in 2002 at a plant in Greer, South Carolina, of BMW US, with both roadster and coupe versions of the car. When launched, it won Automobile Magazine "Design of the Year Award". Starting with the 2009 model year, the second-generation Z4 is built at BMW's Regensburg, Germany plant as a retractable hardtop roadster. In 2009, the BMW Z4 II won the Red Dot Design Award.

First generation (E85; 2003–2009)

BMW Z4 (E85)
Overview
Production	1 September 2002–28 August 2008, 180,856 roadsters and 17,094 coupés
Assembly	Greer, South Carolina, United States (BMW US Manufacturing Company)
Designer	Anders Warming
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door roadster 2-door coupé
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive[nb 1] or Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive[nb 2]
Powertrain
Engine	2.0 L N46B20 I4 2.2 L M54B22 I6 2.5 L M54B25 I6 3.0 L M54B30 I6 3.0 L N52B30 I6 3.2 L S54B32 I6
Transmission	5/6 speed manual 5/6 speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,495 mm (98.2 in)
Length	4,090 mm (161.0 in)
Width	1,780 mm (70.1 in)
Height	1,300 mm (51.2 in) (roadster) 1,285 mm (50.6 in) (coupe)

BMW Z4 2.5si convertible (Australia)

The first-generation BMW Z4 was designated the E85 in roadster form and E86 in coupé form. It was designed by Danish BMW-designer Anders Warming.^[1]

From 2003 the Z4 Roadster is available as a 3.0i (3.0 L I6 with 231 hp), a 3.0si available with the new generation 3.0 L I6 with 265 hp (198 kW), a 2.5si with a 2.5 I6 with 218 bhp (163 kW; 221 PS), a 2.2i with a straight-6 170 bhp (127 kW; 172 PS) engine, or a 2.0i with a 150 bhp (112 kW; 152 PS) 2.0 L I4. The Z4 coupé is available only in the high-performance 3.0si trim powered by the 3.0 L 255 hp (190 kW) I6. The Z4 (E85 Roadster/E86 Coupe) was built at the Greer plant.

2004

^[2] Little was new for the 2004 model year.

• The 2.5i got 16-inch wheels, the 3.0i received 17-inch wheels.
• An optional Sport Package included a sport suspension, plus increased wheel size to 17 inches on the 2.5i, or 18 inches on the 3.0i.
• A Dynamic Driving Control console button was added that quickened throttle action and reduced power-steering assist.
• Leather upholstery was standard in the 3.0i and optional for the 2.5i.
• Xenon headlamps were optional on both models.
• A removable hardtop and a wind deflector were dealer-installed options.

2005

• The Sequential Manual Gearbox remained available on the 3.0i, it was dropped for the 2.5i.
• Optional heated seats
• Optional navigation system
• Optional BMW Assist emergency and concierge service.

2006

More powerful engines, freshened styling, and midyear introduction of a hatchback coupe mark 2006 for BMW's two-seaters.

• The 215-hp 2.5si replaces the 184-hp 2.5i as the base convertible.
• The 255-hp 3.0si in convertible and coupe form.

Z4 M Roadster / Coupe

The Z4 M is powered by a 3.2-litre straight-six engine (S54B32). Performance figures are: 3,246 cc displacement, 343 horsepower (256 kW) at 7,900 rpm, 269 lb·ft (365 N·m) of torque at 4,900 rpm, 8,000 rpm redline. Output per litre is 107 bhp (80 kW; 108 PS), and power-to-weight ratio is 9.9 lb/bhp. Acceleration to 60 mph (96 km/h) comes in 4.8 seconds. (0–62 mph / 100 km/h is 5.0) and top speed is limited electronically to 156 mph (251 km/h).

Second generation (E89; 2009–2016)

BMW Z4 (E89)
Overview
Production	2009–2016, 113,012 units
Assembly	Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
Designer	Juliane Blasi (body) and Nadya Arnaout (interior)
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe convertible
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive[nb 3] or Front mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive[nb 4]
Powertrain
Engine	1,997 cc (121.9 cu in) N20B20 I4 2,497 cc (152.4 cu in) N52B25 I6 2,996 cc (182.8 cu in) N52B30 I6 2,979 cc (181.8 cu in) N54B30 twin-turbocharged I6
Transmission	6 speed manual 6 speed automatic 7 speed automatic 8 speed ZF 8HP automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,496 mm (98.3 in)
Length	4,239 mm (166.9 in)
Width	1,790 mm (70.5 in)
Height	1,291 mm (50.8 in)
Curb weight	1,470 kg (3,241 lb) (sDrive30i manual) 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) (sDrive30i auto) 1,565 kg (3,450 lb) (sDrive35i manual) 1,585 kg (3,494 lb) (sDrive35i auto)

BMW Z4 sDrive23i convertible (Europe)

The vehicle was originally announced on 13 December 2008.^[3][4][5] The vehicle was unveiled in 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.^[6] Credited as "the first BMW designed by two females," the E89 body was styled by Juliane Blasi, with Nadya Arnaout designing the interior. ^{[7] [8]}This time a coupé-convertible with folding hardtop, the Z4 (E89) was built in Regensburg alongside the (E93) 3-Series Cabrio, likely due to the U.S. plant needing more room for SUV production.

The Z4 moved upmarket, dropping the small four-cylinder base engine. In late 2011 BMW reintroduced a 2.0 litre, 4-cylinder powerplant with twin-scroll turbo (N20 engine variant).

Z4 production ended in June 2016.

Speculation abounds regarding a Toyota-BMW joint venture to create a replacement for the Z4 and a new standard bearer for the long absent Toyota Supra. Rumors include a "Z5" moniker for the BMW sibling, a hybrid drivetrain, and a cloth convertible top. ^[9]

References

1. "Design to Reality: the Z4 Roadster". AutoFieldGuide. Archived from the original on 12 January 2009.
2. "2003–2008 BMW Z4: Year-to-Year Changes – Consumer Guide Automotive". howstuffworks.com. 29 March 2012. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
3. "U.S Press Information: 2009 Z4 Roadster" (PDF). BMW. 13 December 2008. p. 17. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
4. "2009 BMW Z4 Review: The New Landshark has landed". Autospies.com. 14 December 2008. Archived from the original on 15 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
5. "2009 BMW Z4: Hairdressers Rejoice!". Jalopnik. Gawker Media. 14 December 2008. Archived from the original on 17 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
6. Abuelsamid, Sam. "Detroit 2009: BMW pulls the cover off the new Z4". Autoblog.com. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
7. Boeriu, Horatiu. "NYT interviews the BMW Z4 Designers: Juliane Blasi and Nadya Arnaout". BMWBlog.com. Horatiu Boeriu. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
8. "BMW Car Designers throughout history". BMWism.com. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
9. Taylor, Michael. "Everything We Know About the Toyota Supra and BMW Z5". Road and Track. Hearst Digital Media. Retrieved 11 September 2016.

• "More Scans Reveal BMW Z4 from All Angles". World Car Fans.
• "BMW unveils 2010 Z4 roadster ahead of Detroit Auto Show debut". Motor Authority.
• "BMW Z4 Reviews & Specs". JB car pages.
• "2010 BMW Z4 Brochure Scans Leak". Jalopnik.
• "Officially Official: 2010 BMW Z4". Autoblog.

Notes

1. Inline-six variant.
2. Inline-four variant.
3. Inline-six variant.
4. Inline-four variant.

External links

• Official BMW Z4 sites for global, USA, UK, and South Africa

Media related to BMW Z4 at Wikimedia Commons